Expos and Cubs reach tentative trade for White

The Montreal Expos reached agreementto trade Rondell White to the Cubs, provided Chicago can sign the outfielder to a multi-year contract extension, The Associated Press learned.

"Yeah, there's something on the table, but if it's not right, I'm not going to sign with the Cubs," White said after the Expos lost to Cincinnati 7-4 Sunday.

Neither the Cubs nor Expos would comment on whether there was a trade, and White did not know the details. But a source familiar with the deal, speaking on the condition that he not be identified, said the teams had until 10 a.m. EDT Monday to finish it.

It was not known what other players were involved in the deal. Baseball's deadline for making trades without waivers is 4 p.m. EDT Monday.

Teams can only negotiate with a player under contract to another club by getting permission from the commissioner's office after a trade agreement has been reached.

"We'll take it from there and let them do what they're going to do and see what happens," White said.

White's name has been prominently mentioned in trade talks. The New York Yankees, Seattle, Atlanta and Milwaukee had been interested, but may have backed off because of his injury-plagued career.

White, 28, has been on the disabled list since July 8 with a strained right thigh. He hoped to be able to play either Tuesday or Wednesday.

He was hitting .307 with 11 homers and 54 RBIs before going on the DL. Last year, he hit a personal-best .312 and played in a career-high 138 games.

White's contract is set to expire this season, though the Expos hold a club option for 2001.

"I heard the Yankees didn't because they want a player who can play right now," he said. "I guess a lot of teams want to win it right now, they don't want a player who's hurt and his hamstring might get pulled again. I think that had a lot to do with it."

"It's kind of made it simple that my future's not with the ballclub. That's a fact," he said. "Tomorrow, I might still be in this uniform. Tomorrow, I might not be. I'm just glad that everything's coming down to an end so I know what's going on."

The Cubs have made a late run to close within 8 games of St. Louis in the NL Central.

"If I go anywhere, it's going to be a team that's going to win. They're still rebuilding and everything, but you never know what's going to happen," he said. "I want to win. I'm tired of losing."